Positively operated control



April 24, 1951 c. H. TINDAL Erm. 2,550,097

POSITIVELY OPERATED CONTROL Filed May 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Shee'i; 2

FIG?.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 24, 1951 POSITIVELY PERATED CONTROL Charles H. Tndal, State College, Pa., and Lincoln K. Davis, Brockton, Mass., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application May 17, 1946, Serial No. 670,590

3 Claims. l

This invention pertains to a hydrostatic device, and more particularly to a device that is attached to a torpedo or similar under-water object and is operable upon reaching a predetermined depth to cause the torpedo to rise to the surface of the water.

Before a torpedo is assembled with an explosive charge it is made to undergo several trial runs for the purpose of determining its operating characteristics. In these runs the torpedo has a water-iilled exercise head instead of an explosive-lled war head. The exercise head is of the same shape and of substantially the same weight as the warhead, and, in addition, it contains various means for recording the performance of the missile and for aiding in retrieving it. Air under high pressure is also carried by the torpedo, frequently in a flask section abat the head. In a common type of torpedo the air in the flask has been consumed to such an extent at the conclusion of the trial run that the pressure thereof falls below a predetermined critical figure, and at this time, a valve is operated to permit the remaining air in the flask to enter the exercise head and expel the ballast Water therein.

It happens sometimes that during the trial run the torpedo becomes imbedded in mud or other impediment, due to erratic performance, too deep an initial dive or an irregular bottom. The density of the entire torpedo being therefore at this time still greater than that oi water, the missile will sink. Recovery then represents a serious problem. Consequently, it is desirable to incorporate in the exercise head some means to eject the ballast water whenever the torpedo reaches a depth exceeding a predetermined limit. Of course, if the trial run proceeds as was intended, the torpedo will never reach this depth and the buoyancy device will not operate.

The principal object of this invention, then, is the provision of a hydrostatic device for operating on a torpedo when the latter reaches a predetermined depth, for the purpose of forcing the torpedo to rise to the surface.

The invention will be more fully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the top plan of a device incorporating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation of the same structure, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line ll--d by Fig. 2.

2 v Fig. 5 is a top plan of a modification incorporating an electric switch.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal elevation of the modification shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the invention shown in Fig. 5.

With reference to the species illustrated in Figsgl, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the invention comprises a base H having a bifurcated centrall boss i2 formed thereon. To front 0f the base l l is fastened a support arm I3, and this support arm it secures the front end of a longitudinally expansible sylphon or Vbellows lli. The rear end of the lbellows lll is closed and is movable longitudinally. A double-armed lever I5 is pivoted to the bifurcated central boss l2 so as to be swingable about a horizontal pin l5 in the'boss i2. A horizontal pin il passes through both arms of` the lever l5 at substantially their mid-portion. The bellows lll is provided with a cylindrical shield i8 that is open at its rear to permit bellows movement but is otherwise continuous over the entir-e expansible surface of the bellows lli. The front end of the bellows contiguous the support arm I3 is xed to the said support arm I3 by means of a nut i9. A bellowsconnector 2l passes through the nut i9 and is in communication with the interior oi the bellows It. The con hector i2! is open to 'the seawater or other external pressure medium in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter. The moveable or rear end of the bellows it is held by a plunger 22 on which is formed a central piston-like extension 23. The extension 23 is movably carried by the pin il that passes through it. An adjusting screw 213 is threaded longitudinally into the plunger extension 23 for the purpose of varying the eiiective length of the plunger The upper ends of the double armed lever I5 carry a horizontal pin 25 to which is attached one end of a hori zontal coil spring 25. The front end of the spring 2G is fixed to the support i3 by means of an adjusting screw 2l' that is threaded through the bellows support i3 and is lock-ed in adjusted position by a nut 23 and washer 29. The spring 26 is under tension so as to force the `plunger 22 forwardly against the rear end of the bellows ifi. The adjustment of the spring 26 determines the hydrostatic pressure required to operate the device, as will be described hereinafter. The spring 26 is removable, and other springs of greater or less tension may be substituted; thus, one spring may cover the range of 35 to 60 feet of depth; another spring may cover the range from to 3 90 feet; and a third spring may cover the range from 90 to 120 feet.

The device is provided with a toggle mechanism comprising a lower arm 3| and two upper arms 32, pivoted at the toggle joint 33. The toggle joint 33 is aligned with and movable by the extension 23 of the plunger 22. The adjusting screw 24 hereinbefore mentioned is interposed between the toggle joint 33 and the plunger extension 23 for the purpose of xing the contact point. The bottom end of the lower toggle arm 3l is pivoted to the boss I2 by a horizontal pin 34, and the upper ends of the toggle arms 32 are pivoted to an actuating lever 35 by a horizontal pin 36. The actuating lever 35 is adapted to swing about a horizontal pin 3l carried by a fixed upright 38 secured to the base Il. An air valve 39 is positioned in the path of movement of the actuating lever 35, and this valve 39 controls the flow of air from the ilask of the torpedo to the exercise head. The valve 39 is of such construction that depression of the actuating lever 35 about its xed pivot 3l will open the valve 33 and permit air from the air flask to enter the exercise head and eject the ballast water therein.

The toggle mechanism also comprises two toggle springs il that stretch between the fixed pivot pin I6 in the bossY I2 and the movable pivot pin 35 in the lever 35. The springs li are under tension, as that in the normal position of the n device the toggle mechanism is broken forwardly and the springs lll serve to bear the toggle joint 33 against the adjusting screw 2li. In this position, the actuating lever 35 is elevated and the air valve 33 is in the closed position, shutting off communication from the air iiask to the exercise head.

After the torpedo has been launched on its test run, the pressure of the sea water in the bellows I4 will tend to counteract the tension of the horizontal spring 23. If the torpedo falls to such a depth that hydraulic pressure exceeds the predetermined force of the spring 25, the sea pressure will overcome the tension of the spring 23 and will force the plunger 22 rearwardly. The contact screw 24 will consequently push against the joint 33 of the toggle mechanism and urge the said joint 33 rearwardly. As the toggle joint 33 is moved rearwardly, the arms 3i and 32 approach a straight line or dead center position and the toggle springs il are subjected to increasing tension. As soon as this position has been passed, the toggle springs il will react to snap the toggle joint 33 rearwardly. The horizontal pin 33 will swing in a counter-clockwise direction, and the actuating lever 35 will be depressed by the toggle springs 3l. The valve 39 will be forced downwardly to open the communication between the air flask and the exercise head. When suiiicient ballast water has been ejected from the exercise head, the torpedo will have attained positive buoyancy and will rise to the surface, where it can be recovered.

A rod 42 may be inserted in each toggle spring 4l to limit the extent of its releasing movement and the downward movement of the actuating lever 35. The set screw #24 locks the pin 33 in the lever 35. A stop screw 135 may be threaded into the boss ll and held in adjusted position by a nut 46. The lower end of the stop screw 45 bears against an extension of the lower toggle arm 3l in the forward position of the toggle mechanism, for the purpose of limiting the forward movement of the toggle joint 33 and predetermining the force required to operate the toggle.

The modification shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7 is similar to that already described, except that instead of the air valve, it comprises an electrical circuit for the purpose of actuating an elevator control to cause the torpedo to assume an upward direction.

A plurality of contact leaves 5l are normally biased to closed or conducting relationship with two stationary contacts 52 by a spring 53. When the device is made operative by the increasein hydrostatic pressure, the toggle joint 33 will be pushed rearwardly against the spring 53. The spring 53 surrounds a plunger 54 and the plunger 54 c-arries the contact leaves 5l. It will be seen, therefore, that as the toggle joint 33 is pushed rearwardly against the force of the spring 53 the plunger 54B will carry the leaves 5l out of contact with the stationary members 52. In this case the breaking of the circuit will operate to energize intermediary devices to tilt the torpedo, blow the head, or open the main motor circuit. In another aspect this form of the invention may be so designed that the operation of the toggle switch will close an electrical circuit for the purpose of obtaining the desired eiTect.

It is understood that the terms horizontal, vertical, front and rear are used only relatively, and that the invention is not to be limited thereby. It is only sumcient that the device be positioned in a portion or the exercise head so that the bellows Ell will be subject to the pressure exerted by sea waterat the required depth.

If desired, the hydrostatically operated bellows hl may be replaced by a solenoid or other operator to cause actuation of the toggle joint 33 under any predetermined condition. For example, the mechanism may be used in exercise runs, with the bellows i3 replaced by such a solenoid, operated'through the cyclic circuit in such a manner that after a predetermined time interval, a

ircuit to the solenoid is closed, causing the toggle joint to snap shut against an airline valve, blowing the head and causing the device to surface.

We claim:

l. A hydrostatically operated control for a torpedo comprising, an expansible chamber one side of which is exposed to a source of hydrostatic pressure, a toggle arrangement disposed with its knee portion in the path of movement of the expansible chamber upon expansion thereof, means for biasing said knee portion toward said expansible chamber, ka control actuating lever secured with said toggle so as to be operated when said knee portion is moved by said expansible chamber past the dead center of said toggle to collapse said toggle, said expansible chamber being inoperative to move said knee portion following the collapse of said toggle. Y

2. A hydrostatically operated control for tor-v pedoes as set forth in claim l wherein means is provided to limit the movement of said knee por-f tion toward said expansible chamber.

3. A hydrostatically operated control for a torpedo comprising, an expansible chamber one sideV of which is exposed to a source of hydrostatic pressure, a toggle arrangement disposed with its knee portion in the path of `movement of the eX- pansible chamber upon expansion thereof, means for normally urging said toggle to a'position in which said knee portion bears against said expansible chamber, a control actuating lever secured to said toggle so as to be operable upon collapse of said toggle when said knee portion has 5 e 6 been moved through the dead center of said tog- REFERENCES CITED gle by the force of said expansible chamber, said The following references are of record in the expansible chamber being inoperative to move me of this patent: said knee portion after the collapse of said toggle, control means operated by said lever to con- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS dition the torpedo for retrieval upon increase of Number Name Date hydrostatic pressure beyond a predetermined 1,527,782 Brandt Feb. 24, 1925 amount. 1,605,313 Whitehead Nov. 2, 1926 CHARLES H. TINDAL. 1,803,530 King et al May 5, 1931 LINCOLN K. DAVIS. l0 1,825,816 Orlando Oct. 6, 1931 1,971,346 Hickey Aug. 28, 1934 1,998,805 Briggs Apr. 23, 1935 2,409,135 Leonard Oct. 8, 1946 

